Jakob Bro (1978) is a Danish guitarist, composer and ECM recording artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is currently collaborating with Joe Lovano, Midori Takada, Brian Blade, Charles Lloyd, Ambrose Akinmusire, Marilyn Crispell, Wadada Leo Smith, Andrew Cyrille, Joey Baron, Thomas Morgan, Jorge Rossy, Larry Grenadier, Palle Mikkelborg, Marilyn Mazur, Nils Petter Molvær, Anders Christensen, Anja Lechner, Arve Henriksen and many more.
His output for ECM Records includes the deeply felt homage Once Around the Room: A Tribute to Paul Motian (2022) co-lead by Joe Lovano and other highly acclaimed albums such as Uma Elmo (2021) with Arve Henriksen and Jorge Rossy; Returnings (2018) with Palle Mikkelborg, Thomas Morgan and Jon Christensen; and the trio albums Bay of Rainbows (2018), Streams (2017) and Gefion (2016). Bro has also won the DownBeat Critics Poll in the
Rising Star Guitarist category and received numerous honors including the Carl Prize, the Danish Music Award, the Danish Arts Foundation Award and a nomination for the Nordic Council Music Prize. Jakob Bro is a former member of Paul Motian & The Electric Bebop Band (Garden of Eden, ECM – 2006) and of Tomasz Stanko’s Dark Eyes Quintet (Dark Eyes, ECM – 2009).
He has released 16 records as a bandleader including musicians like Lee Konitz, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian, Kenny Wheeler, Paul Bley, Chris Cheek, Thomas Morgan, Ben Street, Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Andrew D’Angelo, Chris Speed, George Garzone, Craig Taborn, Oscar Noriega, David Virelles, Jon Christensen, Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen, Peter
Laugesen, Kresten Osgood, Jakob Høyer, Nicolai Munch-Hansen, Jonas Westergaard, Søren Kjærgaard, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and many more. He has toured in Japan, China, South Korea, Greenland, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, South Africa, USA and most of Europe.
His music and various ensembles are depicted in the film “Music for Black Pigeons” (directed by Jørgen Leth and Andreas Koefoed), which premiered at the 79th Venice Biennale in 2022.
Awards and Recognitions
- 2022: Official Selection of the 79th Venice Film Festival + winner MUSE Cinema &
Arts Award (for Music For Black Pigeons) - 2018: Downbeats 66th Annual Critics Poll winner “Rising Star Guitar”
- 2016: The Carl Prize – Jazz Composer of the Year (for the album Gefion)
- 2015: Danish Music Award – Danish Jazz Album of the Year (for the album Gefion)
- 2014: Nomination – The Nordic Council Music Prize (for
Balladeering/Time/December Song) - 2013: The Carl Prize – Jazz Composer of the Year (for the album Bro/Knak)
- 2013: Danish Music Award – Danish Crossover Album of the Year (for the album
Bro/Knak) - 2013: Jazz Special Prize – Danish Jazz Album of the Year (for the album December
Song) - 2013: The Jazznyt Prize (for the album December Song)
- 2012: DJBFA’s honorary award (from the organisation Danish Jazz, Beat and Folk
Authors) - 2012: The Danish Arts Foundation reward (for the album Bro/Knak)
- 2010: Danish Music Award – Danish Jazz Album of the Year (for the album
Balladeering) - 2009: Jazz Special Prize – Danish Jazz Album of the Year (for the album Balladeering)
- 2007: The Danish Arts Foundation reward (for the album Pearl River)
- 2006: Danish Music Award – Danish Jazz Album of the Year (for the album
Sidetracked) - 2006: Danish Music Award – Danish Crossover Album of the Year (for Sidetracked)
- 2003: Danish Music Award – New Danish Jazz Artist of the Year (for Beautiful Day)
Reserve tickets on studio@rorane.se